I've never read any Anne Rice, but I saw this at the library and thought the cover looked interesting. I thought Anne Rice did vampires and the like -I've never read any Anne Rice, but I saw this at the library and thought the cover looked interesting. I thought Anne Rice did vampires and the like -- and this is definitely not that. Thankfully, it was a very quick read -- the second in a series on seraphim, apparently focusing on this weak-sauce assassin Toby who moves between the present and the past (this time, 16th century Rome) on the orders of the angel Malchiah, in order to solve a crime of poisoning for which certain Jews were to be wrongly blamed. Very heavy on the Christianity! Just all around meh. ...more

Mizuki is amazing. This is the third volume of his story blended with Japan's history, and it just gets better and better (by which I mean, more heartMizuki is amazing. This is the third volume of his story blended with Japan's history, and it just gets better and better (by which I mean, more heartbreaking and horrifying and poignant and bittersweet). ...more

So much potential for ridiculous double entendre when you have a series called "Breed," just wasted in "novellas" that are silly and extremely repetitSo much potential for ridiculous double entendre when you have a series called "Breed," just wasted in "novellas" that are silly and extremely repetitive. The foreword explains what these "Breeds" are about:

They were created, they weren't born. They were trained, they weren't raised. They were taught to kill, and now they'll use their training to ensure their freedom. They are Breeds. Genetically altered with the DNA of the predators of the earth. The wolf, the lion, the cougar, the Bengal; the killers of the world...Now, they're loose...fighting to hide the one secret that could see them destroyed.

The secret of mating heat. The chemical, biological, the emotional reaction of one Breed to the man or woman meant to be his or hers forever. A reaction that binds physically. A reaction that alters more than just the physical responses or heightens the sensuality. Nature has turned mating heat into the Breeds' Achilles' Heel. It's their strength, and yet their weakness. And Mother Nature isn't finished playing yet.

Man has attempted to mess with her creations. Now she's, going to show man exactly how she can refine them. Killers will become lovers, lawyers, statesmen, and heroes. And through it all, they will cleave to one mate, one heart, and create a dynasty.

Oooookay. That's basically the madlibs-style plot for each story. Throw in an animal (in this case, we have a Lion, a Wolf, and then a Cajun Jaguar rendered like a petulant cartoon pussy cat), add some bare male torso and leather pants, and a Girl next door (who doesn't think she's attractive, of course). Breed stalks Girl and knows from the start she'll be his mate-for-life, something throws Breed + Girl together and Breed shows just how dominant and possessive and protective he'll be. Breed's tongue glands start pumping, Breed CAN'T HELP HIMSELF DAMMIT SHE'S MAKING HIM SHRED EVERY OUNCE OF CONTROL and winds up kinda forcing her, first with that deadly kiss and the flood of hormones that will bind them together for life and spawn some really intense mating sessions. My goodness, that mating heat, all with a little animal science thrown in to keep everyone on their toes. And the rest of the story alternates between the mating, the Girl trying to figure out what the heck to do with her normal life now that she's also a helpless sex slave (but also in love), and the Breed fighting off the odd bad guy so that the mating can continue unabated.

The writing is also pretty uninspired and often awkward. We've got some confusing verbs (I think I counted four uses of the phrase "his lips quirked" - what does this mean?? or "shooting him the gleam of anger burning in her eyes" - what?), some confusing agents ("his pants cinched" - really? the pants did the cinching?), some odd qualifiers (the "flat, hard disc of his male nipple" - as opposed to his female nipple?), all on the carousel of tiresomely repeated phrases (damn! no control! damp panties! the scent of arousal! you've heard the tabloid stories about Breed mating! small glands at the side of my tongue! burning flesh! growl! need! claim! repeat.).

But there is some sidebar character named "Lawe Justice"; that's something, at least....more

DELIGHT. I don't read xkcd regularly, but I will now. Mr. Munroe is a mathamagician, just showing off hilariously in this wonderful compendium. For thDELIGHT. I don't read xkcd regularly, but I will now. Mr. Munroe is a mathamagician, just showing off hilariously in this wonderful compendium. For the record, my favorite quote comes in answer to the question, what would happen if you tried to fly a normal Earth airplane above different solar system bodies? After discussing some of the pros and cons of trying to fly on Titan, Munroe writes, "[i]f humans put on artificial wings to fly, we might become Titanian versions of the icarus story -- our wings could freeze, fall apart, and send us tumbling to our deaths. But I've never seen the Icarus stroy as a lesson about the limitations of humans. I see it as a lesson about the limitations of wax as an adhesive. The cold of Titan is just an engineering problem. With the right refitting and the right heat sources, a Cessna 172 could fly on Titan - and so could we." I nominate Usain Bolt to give it a try! http://www.livescience.com/43834-usai...

Really interesting reporting about Liberia ex-prez Charles Taylor's American citizen son Chucky, who split time between suburban Florida and war-tornReally interesting reporting about Liberia ex-prez Charles Taylor's American citizen son Chucky, who split time between suburban Florida and war-torn Monrovia getting into some really awful stuff. As the sole individual who's been prosecuted and convicted under 18 USC 2340 for torture (and this during the peak years of fantastic OLC opinions on "enhanced interrogation" not amounting to the kind of torture prohibited under that statute and the international Convention Against Torture it implements), there's no question Chucky did horrible things to people, and the book describes them in plenty of detail. Equally compelling, though, is Chucky's family story, his slow fall from grace (especially the interim year in Trinidad spent recording rap music), and the ICE investigation that ultimately led to Justice in the form of a 97-year prison sentence. The writing is uneven, unfortunately, but the content itself largely makes up for it....more

Picked this up on a whim, unfamiliar with Beryl Bainbridge, not knowing this was a creative exercise based on Bobby Kennedy's assassination, and alsoPicked this up on a whim, unfamiliar with Beryl Bainbridge, not knowing this was a creative exercise based on Bobby Kennedy's assassination, and also not knowing that Bainbridge died before she was actually able to finish the book. Realizing all that after the fact, this odd little novel made a lot more sense (not to suggest that it wholly makes sense even so). It offers a strange, dark road trip for a young British girl and a cranky older fella, in joint pursuit of one Dr. Wheeler for very individual reasons. I'm curious enough to read others of her works, though it's definitely a bummer she wasn't able to finish this one....more

Part memoir (grieving the sudden loss of a father), part nature writing (hawks! I knew nothing about them!), and part biography of fantasy writer T.H.Part memoir (grieving the sudden loss of a father), part nature writing (hawks! I knew nothing about them!), and part biography of fantasy writer T.H. White (I also knew nothing about this man, other than that he wrote 'The Once and Future King' - but, interesting bloke indeed). No excess sentimentality here - just lovely writing on topics both otherworldly and altogether common. Very, very pleased with this, enough that it wholly gripped me (and I gripped it) throughout a few hours of tattooing, following which I ran home to pull out my NatGeo book on birds to actually figure out what a goshawk is -- which only made me think Ms Macdonald all the more awesome....more

My goodness, this book apparently provokes some strong reactions from reviewers. I didn't love all the essays, but I loved a lot of them, especially tMy goodness, this book apparently provokes some strong reactions from reviewers. I didn't love all the essays, but I loved a lot of them, especially the first couple. LJ is one very bright lass who writes very well. Who cares if she'd likely annoy the shit out of me in real life? Her ideas, as expressed in these essays, are full of gems to be sifted. I won't begrudge her my pleasure and admiration; I know I'll be thinking on her themes of pain and empathy and suffering and self-indulgence for a while to come....more

Beautiful book, beautiful photography, all focused on Afghanistan. A good number (maybe even most?) of the photos duplicate what you might find in othBeautiful book, beautiful photography, all focused on Afghanistan. A good number (maybe even most?) of the photos duplicate what you might find in other Steve McCurry compilations (I'm thinking of my oversized "Iconic Photographs" and my miniature "Portraits" -- happily, the size of this book is just right). That redundancy doesn't matter much to me, though; it's lovely to have them all together here, showing the relationship this photographer has had with the country over the last thirty years. Heartwarming and heartbreaking in turn....more

First, this is a delightful and dark little snack of a story. More importantly, it's illustrated. I was feeling bad because I jumped and bought this bFirst, this is a delightful and dark little snack of a story. More importantly, it's illustrated. I was feeling bad because I jumped and bought this before methodically seeking out the European Vintage editions I generally prefer. But this edition merges illustrations and photos of both a new moon and a donut. What's not to love? I mean, I love Mr. Murakami for writing about them in close proximity in the first place, and the new moon/donut combo was everything I needed to start this new lunar cycle off right. I thank you most kindly, author and art director. ...more

Fascinating content handled by such a delightful writer. I realize it usually annoys the crap out of me when an author engages in self-indulgent footnFascinating content handled by such a delightful writer. I realize it usually annoys the crap out of me when an author engages in self-indulgent footnoted asides (Simon Winchester, I'm looking right at you), but Mary Roach uses the footnote hilariously, and I minded it not at all (just as I did not mind, but rather reveled in, her punnery). So happy with this. ...more

After finishing a book about death under Stalin, I figured this silly thing would be a quick palate cleanser -- I'd picked it up months ago to joke abAfter finishing a book about death under Stalin, I figured this silly thing would be a quick palate cleanser -- I'd picked it up months ago to joke about with my dad, who also did search and rescue with his pup. I realize it's probably pointless to include a one-star rating here, as I presume the readers who buy this book in seriousness are getting exactly what they want out of it. But my god, this book wasn't even a good ridiculous romance. Buyer beware: apparently Harlequin's "Love Inspired" Suspense subseries (sub-subseries "Alaskan Search + Rescue") is full of non-denominational Christian abstinence - just the kind of fare a Bristol Palin might endorse (Harlequin, what are you doing?!?!?!). So here, we had a LOT of hand clasping and arm clasping and occasionally cupping a hand over a pair of already clasped hands, one forehead kiss, a lot of blushing, and two kisses on the mouth, before a very abrupt marriage proposal in the last pages. Don't read this for the physical action, or the hope for any sort of variety in verbs when it comes to what the hands and arms are doing. Unless you want subjects and verbs mixed up inappropriately in phrases like "her hands fisted." Nope, not that kind of book.

And the story driving all of these emotionally fraught hand-holding sessions? We've got single mom Ella (+ 8 year old Robbie) who left her abusive ex-husband who was also involved in a "crime syndicate" but after Ella turned him into the police went to "the" state's evidence [sic] and wound up in a Witness Protection Program such that Ella can't know where he is, while at the same time he's probably hunting her down. We've got Josiah Witherspoon, who runs a camping store with his twin sister after having been a secret POW during his ten years in the Marines, during which time his fiancee couldn't stay faithful -- but he does volunteer search and rescue with his dog Buddy who also helps with his PTSD. These are two people who DO NOT TRUST ANYONE and who also feel it is critical for any potential partner (though each feels like s/he can't believe that life will offer up any partner) to SHARE THEIR DEEPEST SECRETS. And there you have it. Can they trust? Will they share their secrets? Yes, by the end of the book, they will, and after checking these two trust? secrets? boxes, they are obviously ready to get married.

Also, there's some random child predator winds up loose in Alaska hunting down Robbie for no great reason - Josiah clearly has to help, which prompts all the indebtedness and questions about reciprocity in the trust and secret sharing departments, and also results in said child predator winding up in Ella's house where Josiah and Ella beat him down. But don't worry, if you were thinking it odd that some random child predator was after Robbie when we keep hearing about this crazy ex-husband, it does seem this family just has especially bad luck. When the Ella/Josiah/Robbie/Josiah's-twin-sister/dog crew goes on a celebratory camping trip to on some deserted Alaskan island (after recovering from the child predator scare), Ella (1) spies someone looking at her with binoculars and scaring deer, (2) finds the next morning that all their food has been stolen and replaced with rocks (we have a jokester on our hands!), and THEN (3) is suddenly kidnapped by that ex-husband?! Let's just say the "suspense" element here was hilariously contrived, but Josiah obviously comes to the rescue and all is well. Well, all is well once both Ella and Josiah realize that they need to forgive their respective captors and exes (WTF, really?! This is the dipped-in-nondenominational-"New Life-Organization"-worship aspect that was truly the last straw). But hey, maybe it's less hard to forgive the insane ex who was starting to torture you in a cave and planned to steal your son, after Josiah has thrown him to the bottom of a pit in the cave where all the blood pooled around his head "suggests" he's finally dead. Forgiveness is a funny thing.

Oh, and the author calls Marine Josiah a "soldier" at one point. For heaven's sake, lady.

A book-length essay on the black farce of Soviet Russia under Stalin, whose brutality was quite boundless. Martin Amis is a wonderful writer and intelA book-length essay on the black farce of Soviet Russia under Stalin, whose brutality was quite boundless. Martin Amis is a wonderful writer and intellectual, and while this isn't a history (more Amis's thoughts on the histories he's read), it pulls things together in a clear, rather jaw-dropping way - despite the slightly meandering nature of the book. The effects of Stalin on the world are more than tragecomedy, and Amis makes some very compelling arguments for thinking of the 20 million-ish deaths under this regime (and the underpinning politics) with the same solemn gravitas that the Holocaust gets. ...more

As with any really well-written survival literature, the content is awful, yet gracefully communicated. I continue to marvel at the ludicrous sufferinAs with any really well-written survival literature, the content is awful, yet gracefully communicated. I continue to marvel at the ludicrous suffering humans inflict on other humans, and I am glad we have Ms. Ginzburg's account to serve as a continual reminder....more

Real short short stories, full of wit, charm, precision, astute observation. I'm really excited to actually read the "Collected Stories" that precededReal short short stories, full of wit, charm, precision, astute observation. I'm really excited to actually read the "Collected Stories" that preceded this collection. Totally sold on Ms. Davis....more

Beautiful, earthy, and sensuous! After some super long days at work, it felt so nice to come home to this book and immerse myself in the warm and wondBeautiful, earthy, and sensuous! After some super long days at work, it felt so nice to come home to this book and immerse myself in the warm and wonderful home environments Ms. Blakeney has curated. If ever I needed to feel affirmed in my personal tastes, this book does the trick -- I don't think I'd realized there were so many others with similar kantha + kilim fetishes, cravings for All The Textiles, plants a plenty, incense-burning, and incessant desire for more more more color. This book felt like coming home, and I loved it....more

I'd intended to be more excited about this than I turned out to be. This book tackles 50 "wonders" - 20 natural, 30 man-made, and a pretty arbitrary cI'd intended to be more excited about this than I turned out to be. This book tackles 50 "wonders" - 20 natural, 30 man-made, and a pretty arbitrary collection (though, of course, all modern lists of the world's greatest wonders are arbitrary -- this particular collection just didn't suit all my fancies). Format is a four-ish page entry for each, which includes (in reverse order) a couple pages of brief scientific explanation of how the thing came to be (with a bit of historical context), a nice big photo, a few sentences on how to get there (e.g., which bus to take to the Eiffel Tower) and what other stuff you might want to see whilst in the area, and an intro paragraph written in second-person (choose-your-own-adventure style). The intros were just silly, and I quickly chose to not read them at all. The travel info seemed like a grasping attempt to make this work as a LP 'travel' book, but the info is so sparse that it's practically worthless (except for the suggestion made no less than three times, in relation to three different "wonders," to travel to Bryce Canyon in Utah - which is a lovely place, to be sure, but goodness, there are other things to do and see). The photos and science-y information are nice and make this experiment more worthwhile. In all, though, felt a bit slapdash and didn't execute fully on any of the things it felt like the author was trying to do. At least it reminded me how much I want to go to Rapa Nui!...more

I can't explain why this book fell so flat any better than this reviewer did. Disappointing as a purported retelling of a fairy tale, disappointing asI can't explain why this book fell so flat any better than this reviewer did. Disappointing as a purported retelling of a fairy tale, disappointing as an examination of race relations (and suddenly, trans issues?), disappointing characters for whom I couldn't summon any feelings, try as I might. Skip.

A subject so frightfully commonplace, made so incredibly real and compelling. All the vertigo, all the feelings, all the madness: this author is wondeA subject so frightfully commonplace, made so incredibly real and compelling. All the vertigo, all the feelings, all the madness: this author is wonderful, and I can't wait to read her other work....more

Magical realism + Los Angeles = I'm probably sold. I confess I'm a little surprised by the number of very negative reviews this book seems to have garMagical realism + Los Angeles = I'm probably sold. I confess I'm a little surprised by the number of very negative reviews this book seems to have garnered, though I get it - heavy handed symbolism, a bit preachy, maybe some sloppy plotting and dialogue, storylines that don't wrap up for no great reason. Still: now that I am far from LA, it makes me feel good to read about it. And this was like City of Quartz, but fictionalized and delightful. So, no complaints from me....more

THIS BOOK IS SO LOVELY. Full of science and beauty and just so well designed. I grabbed it on a whim at the library, but I'd gladly buy my own copy inTHIS BOOK IS SO LOVELY. Full of science and beauty and just so well designed. I grabbed it on a whim at the library, but I'd gladly buy my own copy in the future. Makes quite a nice companion to the Radiolab podcast on color as well!...more

A fever dream through and through, and - at least on the first read - much of the mystery left unsolved. Which is a little annoying, but then I remembA fever dream through and through, and - at least on the first read - much of the mystery left unsolved. Which is a little annoying, but then I remember that I don't like everything tied up in a neat bow anyway, and this felt much more like an exploration of Big Ideas (which I'm still pondering on). ...more

Not at all what I expected from a second book in this series (Area X from the Southern Reach command perspective), but I'm anxious to read the third bNot at all what I expected from a second book in this series (Area X from the Southern Reach command perspective), but I'm anxious to read the third book and GET SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED!! ...more

Heard an interview with the author on NPR (somehow missing the fact that the author herself is a former NPR reporter), and the premise of the book souHeard an interview with the author on NPR (somehow missing the fact that the author herself is a former NPR reporter), and the premise of the book sounded quite compelling - at least enough to grab the book from the library. Fortunately it was a quick read, because despite said interesting premise (i.e., discovering at age 37 that you have a bullet lodged in your neck that's been there since you were a child - TIME TO INVESTIGATE!!!!), the book just grew sillier and sillier without drawing me in a whole lot more. Silly, as in, side-romance with a country-music-loving doctor who flies unannounced halfway across the country to 'drag her back to some important surgery the next day' and cheer her up with some surprise sex (this is the level of personal care our medical system is really missing, eh?). Two and a half-ish stars - just not quite as fun and suspenseful as I'd hoped it might be. ...more

Truman Capote is such a magnificent author. I smiled aloud at least every couple pages, and it's been so very long since I've seen the movie that I diTruman Capote is such a magnificent author. I smiled aloud at least every couple pages, and it's been so very long since I've seen the movie that I didn't have the burden of comparison in my mind to mess with the Holly Golightly he created. Just wonderful. And the three short stories appended are no less poignant. Sigh of happiness. ...more

Not for polite company, but such a carefully considered, comprehensive, fascinating compendium! The foreword and essay at the beginning are insightfulNot for polite company, but such a carefully considered, comprehensive, fascinating compendium! The foreword and essay at the beginning are insightful, but it's the tattoos themselves - as photographed on prisoners or in drawing form - that tell the story. Lots of acidic political commentary, violence, and salty nudes, because when you get sent to prison 5 years for stealing that loaf of bread, f* everyone. ...more